Skip Erickson, a 66-year-old Vietnam veteran and a Gilbert resident since 1990, assumed his new position in June, defeating Joe Heller, commander for seven years, in an election. Heller remains as the post’s adjutant (administrative assistant).

Like most boys, Erickson wanted to be a baseball player, fireman or a policeman when he was growing up in Chicago.

“I must admit, being the commander of an American Legion Post never crossed my mind,” he said. “I feel, however, that having been a member of our post for a while, I do have some things to offer. Perhaps just a different approach to things we have been trying to do will bring better results.”

The Legion has four entities represented at the Gilbert post: The Legionnaires, who are the veterans; the Auxiliary, consisting of women who had a relative serve in the armed forces; the Sons of the American Legion, who are males who had an ancestor serve in the armed forces; and the American Legion Riders, a group with an interest in motorcycles.”

“It is the commander’s job, as I see it, to recognize the value of contributions made by all, and make the effort to have a post that operates with a common goal, not four different and unrelated goals,” he added.

Erickson served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War from April 1968 to April 1969. After the service, he spent 30 years with a telephone company and retired in 1997.

Together with his wife, Dianna, Erickson has since owned a real-estate company based in Chandler, called Erickson Realty Group LLC. They have three grown children and five grandchildren.

As post commander in Gilbert until next June, Erickson will participate in community events such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day commemorations. He will also represent the post at the American Legion meetings and events.

The post also provides speakers for schools; raises funds to send high-school juniors each June to Boys State (a Legion civics program at Northern Arizona University); and participates in the national Honor Flight Network, a non-profit that honors America’s veterans by transporting them to Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect at their memorials, among several others.

“The most difficult part, of course, as we are an all-volunteer organization, is in getting sufficient participation to accomplish what we are trying to do,” Erickson said. “No one person can do everything. So far, I feel pretty good about the help we have been getting from our members.”

Erickson realizes the shortcomings of the post headquarters in downtown Gilbert. The 1950s building is small, and maintenance issues are cropping up. Although plans for a new building on the same location were made many years ago, fundraising has not been accomplished.

“While we are all aware of our limitation with our current home, we are also acutely aware of the difficulty in raising funds for a new structure during these economic times,” Erickson said. “A new post cannot be built using meals and raffles as a fundraiser.”

Recently, some deferred maintenance issues were completed, including installing a new roof, painting the hall, rebuilding the storage walls and improving the back patio.

“We need to maintain what we have,” he said. “I would hope to have a five- and 10-year plan in place at the conclusion of my term next June, so future officers will have an idea of what needs be done.”

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